Let's talk about Verticals

Michaela Bergmann

5.0 (1)
After Shows
Updated Semiweekly

A Podcast with people who are part in the vertical industry, whether actors, producers, directors, fans, streaming platforms, etc. Everyone is welcome to talk with me about the big, wide world of verticals. About life with and in this world, its bright and dark sides. Be excited for wonderful real talk paired with humor, charm but the necessary seriousness 🎙️

14h ago

101 - LA Vertical Drama Market - An event you shouldn't miss in the Vertical Space...

🎬 The Vertical industry has long been carving its own path — evolving in ways that are very different from the traditional film business. The market is growing rapidly, constantly changing, and unless you’re actively on set and in the middle of it all, it’s easy to lose track of what’s really happening.Dana Protsyshak @dana__productions_vertigo , founder of Vert-I-Go Media, recognized exactly that — and created an industry event designed to bring people from all areas of the business together to explore, understand, and connect through the world of Vertical storytelling: the LA Vertical Drama Market. 🚀 @la_vertical_dramamarket In today’s episode, I sit down with Dana, the founder and organizer of the LA Vertical Drama Market, to talk about the vision behind the event, the concept itself, and the experiences, lessons, and highlights from the first two editions of LAVDM.Joining the conversation are three amazing LAVDM participants, who have also been involved as speakers in panels and labs during the event. 🎤✨Dalia (@verticalfilmslover)Caitlyn (@verticait)Sarah (@escapismviaverticals) Together, we explore what makes the LA Vertical Drama Market so unique, what attendees can expect, and why it’s absolutely worth traveling to Los Angeles if you want to better understand and dive deeper into the fast-growing world of Verticals.The third edition of the LA Vertical Drama Market is already in the works and will take place November 5–7 📍 Based on the experiences and feedback from the first two events, Dana also gives us an exciting first look at some of the new ideas and developments currently being planned.Get ready for exclusive insights into the LA Vertical Drama Market and immerse yourself in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of Vertical storytelling. 🎥📱Enjoy listening! 🎧For more information, check out Instagram @la_vertical_dramamarket and the official website: laverticaldramamarket.com#podcast #new #vertical #community #bts

1h 26m
1d ago

100 - May Recap and a big Milestone...

The 100th podcast episode is finally here, and who better to celebrate it with than my five Review Ladies? On top of that, it's also time for our ninth Monthly Recap, which means we have lots to discuss!Since numbers are known to be quite relevant in the Vertical Space, we start off with a few facts about the podcast, which has now been around for nine months. Among them are the 96,443 downloads recorded as of May 31. We're also pleased to see that this month brought several storylines and verticals that we've never seen before. Whether we're all equally enthusiastic about them from a content perspective, however, remains to be seen. Curious about what didn’t quite impress us in May — and what completely stole our hearts? Then you’re in exactly the right place for my monthly roundtable with the ladies!Joining the discussion:* Michaela (Host) @lets_talk_about_verticals* Aline @i.love.verticals* Dalia @verticalfilmslover* Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly* Caitlyn @verticait* Meagan @realreeldramaOur Monthly Recap gives you direct insight from the audience perspective on what truly stood out… and what definitely didn’t.This month’s categories:🎭 Actor/Actress of the Month🎬 Supporting Role of the Month💫 Chemistry of the Month🏆 Vertical of the Month💩 Crap/Disappointment of the Month📱 App of the MonhAs always, we keep it open, honest, and unfiltered — celebrating what we love about the Vertical industry while also calling out where there’s clear room for improvement.A refreshingly entertaining yet critically reflective conversation you don’t want to miss 🎙️✨Enjoy listening!#podcast #new #verticals #bts #community

1h 49m
4d ago

99 - Ben Whalen - The Face You Love to Hate. Verticals, Villains & Cinema...

🎙️ It took Ben Whalen and me quite a while to finally find the time to sit down for a relaxed and unhurried conversation—but good things are worth waiting for. One of the reasons was that Ben was unexpectedly called away to China for his very first Vertical project right around the time we had originally planned to record. Even better, he was able to return shortly afterward to shoot even more amazing Vertical content for us. ✈️🎬 When he’s not traveling the world for Vertical productions, Ben is a true film enthusiast who tries to make it to the cinema at least once a week to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of a good (horizontal) movie. 🍿🎥 Ben is also one of the few people I can openly discuss topics that audiences don’t necessarily want to see in Verticals—especially those infamous banquet scenes. We both still wonder why nobody ever just Googles the answer or shows their ID. 😂 According to Ben himself, he has a “hateable face,” which makes him a natural choice for antagonist roles. 😈 Over the years, he has embraced those characters and developed a style that is uniquely his own. No matter what role he’s playing, chances are you’ll find him looking sharp in a stylish suit. 🤵✨ And if you’re ever looking for him after a shoot, check the shower first. If his final scene involved a shower, there’s a good chance he decided to stay there a little longer. 🚿😂 One item that’s definitely on Ben’s 2026 bucket list is filming in Europe. Whether he’ll be able to correctly pronounce my name by the time he arrives in Germany remains to be seen. 😜🇩🇪 This episode is packed with fun stories, behind-the-scenes insights, honest conversations, and plenty of laughs. You definitely won’t want to miss it. 🎧 Enjoy the episode!Some Verticals with Ben Whalen: Sleeping with a Billionaire Enemy (Tikok) The Voice That Lied (Kalos TV) Found A Homeless Genius to Save My Company (Goodshort) Karma at Your Wedding Day (ShortMax) Swapped Heiress by My Bestie (Dramawave) #podcast #verticals #community #bts #new

1h 31m
May 30

98 - Brooke Moltrum - From Vampire Romance to Vertical Stardom...

At the beginning of my personal Vertical-watch journey, I actually avoided werewolf and vampire Verticals because they felt a little too fancy for me 😅🧛‍♀️🐺 Until my today’s podcast guest Brooke Moltrum — together with Nick Ritacco — completely pulled me in with Fated to My Forbidden Vampire ✨ I’m really excited to talk with Brooke about her very first steps into the Vertical space, how she even ended up becoming part of this industry, and what turned out to be one of the biggest learning curves for her in the beginning 🎬 Brooke also loves looking behind the camera and diving into the entire production process of a Vertical. So we also talk about topics like the buzz around click numbers 📈, storylines ✍️, post-production 🎞️ and where we personally see weaknesses and room for improvement in the current Vertical world. And when it comes to characters? Brooke is incredibly versatile 👏 Thankfully, she’s not being boxed into just one type of role — she can play the sweet and lovable female lead just as convincingly as the calculating and manipulative antagonist 😈✨ Besides her time in musical theater — where she also performed in 2025 🎭🎶 — Brooke would absolutely love to show off her singing skills in a Vertical one day. (Although, according to her, the extra super-professional dancing could probably be skipped 😂) And trust me… you’ll definitely want to hear who she thinks would be PERFECT for the male lead role 👀🔥 After appearing in so many Verticals, Brooke has gained a huge amount of experience, learned a lot, and changed many things along the way. Ever wondered why Brooke almost always crosses her legs when sitting in a Vertical scene? 🤔 Or why she sometimes intentionally covers parts of her face during filming? 🎥 You’ll hear all of that — and so much more — in this wonderful, relaxed and super fun conversation 💫 Enjoy listening! 🎧❤️ Some Verticals with Brooke Moltrum: 99 Chances of Love (Kalos TV) Alpha's Love Captive (MyDrama) Torn Between the Cole Brothers (Shorts) Boss, Your Executive Secretary Has Resigned (Dramabox) I Love You More Than Life (Reelshort)#podcast #bts #new #community #vertical

1h 11m
May 27

97 - Fantalk - Sanne (Vertical World Girl) - Reviews, Interviews & Vertical Obsessions...

🎙️ It’s time for a new episode featuring someone from the audience side of the Vertical world! This time, I sat down with Sanne from Vertical World Girl. ✨ Many of you probably already know Sanne and have watched one or two of her interviews with people from the Vertical space. But today, it’s finally her turn to be interviewed 😄 Just like me, Sanne entered the Vertical world in 2023 and — like so many of us — got hooked after watching a ReelShort show. She first started out creating reviews before later launching her own interview series. Since then, her work has become an essential part of the Vertical community. 🎬 Of course, we also talk about the kinds of Vertical storylines and genres that instantly make her tune out 👀, which actors and actresses she especially enjoys watching, and whether she prefers subscriptions or spending coins on Verticals 💸 Over time, Sanne has spoken with many actors and actresses, mainly to learn more about the Vertical industry, behind-the-scenes insights, and what it’s really like working on these productions. Does she still have dream guests for her interview format? She reveals it in this episode 👀✨ We also discuss how much time she invests daily into her Vertical page, what can sometimes feel exhausting or demotivating, and why the whole experience is still so incredibly fun and rewarding ❤️ You should definitely tune into this episode if you want another audience perspective on all things Verticals and some exclusive BTS stories from the lives of two Vertical interviewers 🎧✨ Have fun listening! 💫

53 min
May 23

96 - Robert Keefe - The Vertical James Bond with the License to Create 🎬

If you don’t always get offered the roles you truly want to play, then sometimes you simply start writing your own Vertical Scripts — and that’s exactly what Robert Keefe decided to do. 🎬✨ I had the chance to sit down with the actor, writer, and producer to talk about creativity in all its different forms. Among other things, Robert has already been offered elder roles before (which honestly makes absolutely no sense to me 😄), even though he would much rather bring realistic and emotionally grounded Vertical stories to life together with his friends. That’s why last summer he decided to write his very first own Vertical Script — and if everything goes according to plan, it should be released before the end of the year. We’re definitely excited to see it. 👀 Besides writing, Robert has portrayed many different kinds of characters and has made a strong impression both as a villain 😈 and as the nice guy ✨. What helps him maintain a healthy work-life balance no matter what role he’s playing? He shares it with you in this episode. 🎧 Robert also immediately loved my idea of funding my own Verticals one day with a lottery win. 😄 And when I asked him whether I could cast him in multiple projects someday — maybe even with a small discount 😉 — he definitely didn’t say no. One of his biggest dreams would be to shoot in Europe and ideally even play a British character. And if all of that could happen in a James Bond-style story? That would be the ultimate jackpot for him. 🎥🇬🇧🍸 Happiness and mental balance are incredibly important to Robert, and he truly doesn’t take many things in life for granted. ❤️ “Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Kurt Vonnegut ✨ With that being said — enjoy today’s episode! :-) Some Verticals with Robert Keefe Prison Break: Don't Mess with My Daughter (Dramawave) Plus Size Plus Love (Dramabox) Stole Your Alpha for Revenge (Kalos TV) Oops! Reborn Heiress Runs Wild (Momeshort) Falling for a Superstar 2 (Alta TV) #vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

1h 18m
May 20

95 - Rachel Beth Jackson - Confidence, Creativity & Balance...

You’ll find pure female empowerment in this episode, because I’m joined by the wonderful actress Rachel Beth Jackson. ✨🎙️ I had the opportunity to talk with her about the many XXL storylines in Verticals, since those are unfortunately the kinds of roles the plus-size actress has been cast in most often. Rachel gives exclusive insights into what it feels like to dive into stories like these, what can sometimes be difficult for her as a confident woman, and what both of us hope to see from future storylines of this kind. 🎬 Rachel comes from theater, still loves teaching acting classes to children 🎭, and has now also started writing her own Vertical Scripts — stories where it doesn’t matter whether the role is played by a plus-size actress or someone with a slimmer body type, because there are so many more stories to tell than constantly focusing on appearance alone. What does she want to see more of in Verticals? Powerful female roles 💥, strong female friendships 👯‍♀️ with a little bit of RomCom energy 💕, and hopefully someday filming in Europe as well. There’s still so much left to discover in the Vertical space. When she’s not on set, she loves starting her day with journaling ✍️, squeezing in a gym session if there’s time 💪, and most importantly enjoying long walks with her dog 🐶. Rainy weather? No problem at all — for Rachel, that’s actually the perfect atmosphere to switch off, breathe fresh air, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. 🌧️🍃 This conversation is filled with positive energy, thoughtful discussions about certain Vertical storylines, and genuinely interesting perspectives. You should definitely give it a listen. 🎧✨ Some Verticals with Rachel Beth Jackson XL Stands for Xtra Love (Reelshort) Love Again, My Hockey Superstar (ShortMax) When Memory Refuses to Let Her Go (Goodshort) Sexy Principals bloody game (Momeshort) When Love Returns (Flickreels) #vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

1h 7m
May 16

94 - Marc Cotter - Creative Sparks & Vertical Dreams...

Want to know what it really means to have a “Creative Conversation”? Then this podcast episode with Marc Cotter @marccotter is exactly for you. 🎙️✨ This episode is overflowing with creative ideas — although I’ll probably still need a lottery win to actually produce all of them. 😄 Since Marc also writes Vertical Scripts and has already sold three of them, I immediately put him to work on turning Teig’s and my idea for “Dr. Heartbeat, please help me!” into actual words. 😉 So @teig.sadhana I'm on it 😎 What would someone change about their appearance for the perfect Vertical role? Marc, for example, would dye his hair black or even shave it off completely. After he showed me two photos from his “long hair era,” I honestly have zero doubts anymore. 😂 We talk about his must-haves on set 🎬, why I should absolutely cast him in one of the Verticals I discovered myself, where certain storylines have major weaknesses, and why some roles and stories aren’t always that fulfilling for actors. Besides acting and writing, Marc is also passionate about music 🎶 and is about to release an EP — so of course I couldn’t resist testing the waters a little for “Michaela’s Soundgarden.” 🌿🎵 And first impressions? Just as important in the Vertical world as they are during recording sessions. 🎧 Since that first impression worked so naturally and effortlessly between us, it only makes sense that such a harmonious episode came out of it. Enjoy listening! 💫 Some Verticals with Marc Cotter I Don't Want Any of You Three (@dramabox_us) No Mercy for the Cuckoo (@netshortdrama) Raised by the Thief Who Stole My Life (@flareflowapp) Fake Princess Diary (@dramabox_official) After His Affair I Slept with His Best Friend (@flareflowapp) #vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

1h 3m

A Podcast with people who are part in the vertical industry, whether actors, producers, directors, fans, streaming platforms, etc. Everyone is welcome to talk with me about the big, wide world of verticals. About life with and in this world, its bright and dark sides. Be excited for wonderful real talk paired with humor, charm but the necessary seriousness 🎙️

Creator

Michaela Bergmann
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

102
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Michaela Bergmann
Show Website

Let's talk about Verticals